Family

Code 4

Code 6

ITIS

ILLUSTRATION

PHOTOS

CONSERVATION STATUS

The White-throated Sparrow is a small passerine bird and is a member of the American sparrow family. Breeding grounds are located throughout central Canada and New England. Nests are built on the ground or low in trees, and are always well-camouflaged by low shrubs in the area. The preferred habitat of the White-throated Sparrow is deciduous and mixed woodlands. During winter months, this species will typically migrate southward to the southern and eastern United States. However, it is also a rare vagrant to western Europe. Diets consist mainly of seeds, insects and berries found on the ground in low vegetation. The conservation rating of the White-throated Sparrow is Least Concern.

Range and Habitat

White-throated Sparrow: Breeds from Yukon and the Northwest Territories south to northeastern Minnesota and Pennsylvania, east to New England and Newfoundland. Spends winters in much of eastern U.S. and in small numbers in southwestern states. Nests in brushy or semi-open mixed woods, winters on wood lots, scrub lands, gardens, and backyards. Frequently visits bird feeders.

White-throated Sparrow SONGS AND CALLS

White-throated Sparrow A1

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Song is a whistled "old-sam-peabody-peabody" that moves up or down in pitch.

White-throated Sparrow A2

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Call is a sharp "chink".

Similar Sounding

White-crowned Sparrow A1

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Song is a varied series of whistled notes.

Voice Text

"poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody", "tseep"

INTERESTING FACTS

The White-throated Sparrow was first described in 1789 by Johann Friedrich Gmelin, a German naturalist, botanist and entomologist.

Individuals almost always mate with a bird of the opposite morph. Males of both color types prefer females with white stripes,and both kinds of females prefer tan-striped males.

It comes in two color forms: white-crowned and tan-crowned. The two color forms are determined by genetic differences, and are unique among birds.

A group of sparrows has many collective nouns, including a "crew", "flutter", "meinie", "quarrel", and "ubiquity" of sparrows.

SIMILAR BIRDS

RANGE MAP NORTH AMERICA

About this North America Map

This map shows how this species is distributed across North America.

FAMILY DESCRIPTION

New World Sparrows and Towhees (Passerellidae)

ORDER

Most of the small birds such as the finches, wood-warblers, and sparrows are members of the one hundred and forty-two families found in the largest taxonomic order of birds; the PASSERIFORMES (pronounced pas-ser-i-FOR-meez).

FAMILY TAXONOMY

The New World Sparrows and related birds are placed in the passerellidae (pronounced pass-ur-EL-ih-dee), a group of one hundred and thirty species in twenty-six genera only found in the New World.

NORTH AMERICA

Eighty-two species of New World Sparrows and Towhees in twenty-six genera are found in North America.

KNOWN FOR

Members of this family are known for their terrestrial behavior, cheery songs, and in the case of sparrows, challenges to their identification due to similarities in appearance of several species. Dark-eyed Juncos and various other species are also well known visitors to feeders during the winter months.

PHYSICAL

Members of the passerellidae are small, plump birds with short, finch-like bills adapted to cracking open seeds. Their wings are generally short and their tails and legs average in length.

COLORATION

In general, bright colors are not a hallmark of this family although some species do show patches of bright orange and red-brown. Brown, white, and gray plumages with streaked and spotted patterns are commonplace for the primarily dull colored sparrows. However there are exceptions, such as the boldly patterned plumages of black, white, and tan plumages displayed by the juncos, and the vibrant black and burnt orange of the towhees.

GEOGRAPHIC HABITAT

At least one species of passerellidae can be found in most every habitat in North America. Most species are birds of weedy fields, scrub, second growth, and non-forest habitats such as desert, grassland, and marsh. The few species adapted to woodlands frequent the thick undergrowth at forest openings and edges.

MIGRATION

Like other short distance migrants, most members of this family migrate later in fall, earlier in spring, and often show up at feeders during the winter. Some species, such as the Fox Sparrow, practice "leap frog" migration with more northerly populations migrating further south in the winter.

HABITS

Outside of the breeding season, sparrows and other members of this family flock together for protection from predators. All are generally terrestrial birds that forage on the ground for seeds and arthropods.

CONSERVATION

Members of this family are for the most part common birds with plenty of available habitat. Passerellidae species that have declined and are endangered in many parts of their range are those that require grasslands, such as the Grasshopper and Henslow's Sparrows, and one species, the Bachman's Sparrow, which requires open pine forests with a grassy understory.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Worthen's Sparrow is an enigmatic species historically recorded in the southwestern United States. Rare, little known, and difficult to find in its known Mexican range, this species may be more adapted to grassland habitats that have disappeared or been drastically altered since European settlement. One of the most commonly seen sparrows in the United States, the House Sparrow, is not a member of this family and, as an imported species, is actually more closely related to African weaver finches and European sparrows than North American sparrows.